Choke-up alarm



L t e e h S m e e h S 2 PM M MA WP. m n o a d 0 M 0 w Patented Nov. 27, 1888.

attend-My.

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet s. F WOLFE. OHOKB -UP ALARM.

No. 393,412. Patented Nov. 27, 1888.-

attqzm-ew UNITED STATES PATENT Grates.

SAMUEL FERDINAND IVOLFF, OF MORRIS, MINNESOTA.

CHOKE-UP ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,412, dated November 2'7, 1888 (No mcdcl.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL FERDINAND WVOLFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Morris, in the county of Stevens and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Choke-Up Alarms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in choke-up alarms for inill-conveyers; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices, that wil'l be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a portion ofa mill-conveyer, showing my improved choke-up alarm connected thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of my improved burglar-alarm taken on the linemxof Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a similar view taken on the line y y of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the same.

a represents the trough of a mill-conveyer of the ordinary construction.

Z) represents the usual worm arranged in the lower side thereof, and 0 represents the usual spout, which communicates with one end of the conveyor and extends downward therefrom.

It frequently happens in mills that this spout becomes choked up when the mill is in operation, and in order to prevent flour from accumulating in the conveyer to an undue extent the conveyor is provided on one side near its discharge end with an outwardly-opening door, d, which is hinged at its upper side, and is adapted to close by its own gravity. This door opens automatically when the flour accumulates in the. conveyer and the spout becomes choked and permits the surplus Hour to spill onto the floor.

The objectof-rny invention is to provide an apparatus which is adapted to be connected to this door and operated by the same, so as to sound an alarm when the spout chokes.

A represents an inclosing-case of suitable size and shape,which is supported in any suitable manner at a convenient distance from the dischargeend of the conveyer. In this case is jourualed a revoluble shaft, B, which has one projecting end squared, and thereby adapted to receive a key or handle, by means of which the shaft may be turned.

Rigidly secured to the said shaft is a drum, C, to which is connected one end of a cord, D. This cord passes over a guiding sheave, 1* and to its pendentend is attached aweight, F.

G represents a ratchetavheel ofsuitablc size, which is provided at its center with a collar or sleeve, H, that forms its hub and slips on the shaft B and is made rigid thereto, so that the ratchetwvhee'l will rotate with the shaft.

Looselyjournaled on the sleeve or collar H, and arranged between the drum 0 and ratchetwheel G, is a large spurwheel, I. Pivoted to this spur-wheel is a spring-actuated pawl, K, which engages the rat chet' wheel G,and thereby permits the spur-wheel to rotate in one direction independently of the shaft B and of the wheel G and drum 0, but causes said spurwheel to rotate with the shaft and the wheel G and drum 0 when the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction.

L represents a shaft, which is journaled in the sides of case A at asuitable distance above the shaft B. This shaft L is provided with a rigid pinion, M,which meshes with spur-wheel I, has a disk, N, provided with a series of tap pet pins, 0, which project from one side thereof and are arranged at suitable regular distances apart, and said shaft Lis further provided with a pinion, I. y

R represents an escapcmentwvheel, which is loose on the shaft B and meshes with pinion I.

S represents a pallet-escapement, which ongages the cscapement teeth on the lower side of wheel It, and is rigidly secured to a sup porting rock shaft, T, that has its hearings in the case A. in the usual manner. Rigidly secared to the said shaft, and depending therefrom, is a pendulum-rod, U, of suitable length, to the lower end of which is attached a bob or weight, V.

On the upper side of the case 'A, and supported on a suitable standard that projects therefrom, is a gong, W.

X represents a rock-shaft, which isjournaled in the sides of case A, and from one side of said rock-shaft projects a tappet-arm, Y, of suitable length, which tappet-arm is adapted to be engaged successively by the tappet-pins O of disk N, when the latter rotates with shaft L. A stoppin, Z, engages the under side of said tappet arm when the same is at the lower limit of its movement and prevents said arm from dropping out of the path of tappetpins 0.

A represents a vibratory arm, which projects upward from rock shaft X, extends through a slot or opening, B, in the top of case A, and has a hammer, 0, attached to its upper end, which hammer is adapted to strike the gong.

D represents a lever, which is arranged substantially in a vertical position, and is piw oted on a shaft or spindle, E. The upper end of this lever projects through an opening, F, in the top of the case,and the lower end thereof is bent at right angles and provided with a point, G, which engages one of the teeth ofthe pinion M, and is thereby adapted to prevent said pinion and the shalt L, to which it is attached,from rotating. A spring, 11, is coiled on the shaft or spindle E, has one end rigidly secured thereto, and has its opposite extremity engaging the lever D, the function of the said spring being to normally keep the point of said lever in engagement with the pinion M.

1' represents a detent arm,which is resilient, is pivoted on the upper side of case A, as at K, has a set-screw, L, at its outer end, and has its opposite extremity bifurcated and engaged with the lever I). This detent-arm bears against the lever D with a force sufficient to prevent said lever from becoming accidentally disengaged from pinion M, and the degree of force with which said detent arm or spring bears against said lever may be regu lated by turning said adjustingscrew L, as may be very readily understood.

M represents a cord or chain, which is at taehed to the upper end of lever D, passes un' der a sheave, N, on one side of the conveyer, and has its upper end secured to the lower or free edge of the hinged door d.

The operation of my invention is as follows: On applying a key to the shaft B and turning the same in the direction indicated by the arrow inFig. 2 the drum (1 and ratchet-wheel t} rotate with the shaft, and thereby wind up the cord to which the weight is attached. While the shaft is turning in this direction the pawl K slips idly on the ratchet-wheel, thus permitting the wheel I and the rest of the alarm mechanism to remain idle. As soon as the spout 1,: becomes choked when the mill is in operation the flour accumulates in the conveyer, as before described, and forces the door (I open. As said door opens, it draws upon the cord or chain M, and thereby trips the lever I) and disengages the same from the pinion M, thus leaving the pinion and the mechanism of the alarm apparatus free to 1'0- late. The pressure exerted by the weight F and cord 1) on the drum causes the latter to revolve in the opposite direction to that indicated in Fig. 2, and carry the spur-wheel I with it, by reason of the pawl being in engagement with the ratchetwheel. The rotary motion of wheel I imparts accelerated rotary motion to shaft L by reason of pinion M, and said shaft L causes the rigid disk N and pinion P to 1-0 tate therewith. As the disk rotates, its tap pet-pins successively engage the tappetarm of rock-shaft X, thereby imparting vibratory motion to the spring rod or arm A, and causes the hammer attached to said rod to strike against the gong and sound an alarm, as will be very readily understood. The pinion l. meshes with the escapement-wheel, and the latter, by reason of the pallet, causes the pendulum to oscillate, and the pendulum regulates the speed of the alarm mechanism and pre vents the same from running too fast. As soon as the spout has been cleared and the door (I closes, so as to release the lover I), the spring arm or detent l forces said lever back into engagement with the pinion M, and there by arrests the operation of the alarm.

Having thus described my invention, I clai|n- 1. An alarm apparatus having the detentlcver D, the pivoted spring'arm l, engaging said lever, for the purpose set forth, and the adjusting-screw L, to regulate the pressure of the spring-arm against; the lever, in combination with the conveyor having the door connectcd tothe lever D, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the shaft B, the drum or ratchet-wheel rigid therewith, the weighted cord attached to the drum, the wheel I, loose on shaft B and having the springpawl engaging the ratchetwheel, the shaft L, having pinion M, engaging wheel 1, disk N, attached to said shalt L and having tappet-pins 0, the pinion P, secured to shaft L, escapementwheel R, loose on shaft B and meshing with pinion I, the pallet engaging the egtcapementwheel and having the pendulum, for the purpose sct forth, the vibrating hammer having the arm Y, engaged and operated by the tappetpins O, the swing-pressed lever D, en-

: gaging the pinion M, and the conveyor having the door connected to lever I), substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL FERDINAND WOLFE.

\Vitnesses:

If. W. S'roNn, J r., WM. 0. Brennan. 

